England on course for final

David Miller and Rory Kleinveldt, pictured, shared a run-a-ball 99 for South Africa's highest ninth-wicket stand in this format

England bowled South Africa out for only 175 despite David Miller and Rory Kleinveldt's record ninth-wicket stand in the Champions Trophy semi-final at The Oval.

Only Robin Peterson and Faf du Plessis even hinted at a worthwhile top-order recovery after James Anderson and Steven Finn had put South Africa in instant trouble by removing both openers for a single between them.

But Miller (56no) and Kleinveldt - with a career-best 43 - counter-attacked to more than double the total as they shared a run-a-ball 99 for South Africa's highest ninth-wicket stand in this format. Telling damage had been done by then nonetheless, first principally by Anderson and then when James Tredwell (three for 19) took three more wickets for eight runs.

Peterson and Du Plessis put on 41 for the third wicket, but after the next five fell for 31 runs, South Africa appeared in fast and terminal decline at 80 for eight. Miller and Kleinveldt had other ideas, calling an early powerplay in which they added 38 runs, and then taking toll of England's back-up seam and spin.

It was hard to see how their efforts had done much more than save some blushes, however - particularly after Stuart Broad returned to have Kleinveldt caught by a diving Jos Buttler down the leg-side and then number 11 Lonwabo Tsotsobe also edging behind to give England's wicketkeeper a world record-equalling six victims in the innings.

Relentlessly characterised as 'chokers' on the big stage for their many failures in the knockout stages of global tournaments, South Africa could point to humid and cloudy conditions as mitigation here, but they mostly had only themselves to blame, Anderson kickstarting their problems after England had unsurprisingly chosen to bowl.

Colin Ingram was first to go, to the fifth ball of the match, before Steven Finn eliminated the dangerous Hashim Amla in the second over. Finn was rusty, having been absent from England's calculations in this tournament until returning here with Tim Bresnan in Yorkshire where his first child is due to be born.

Cook therefore replaced one tall seamer with another as Broad came on at the pavilion end, but persisted with Anderson in pursuit of more precious wickets. Anderson responded with an exemplary spell of 7-1-11-2 - containing three wides - and was rewarded with a second lbw success, from round the wicket to Peterson.

Broad had South Africa captain AB de Villiers edging behind for a duck and then Tredwell entered the equation. First he had JP Duminy chopping on to his stumps, then Du Plessis edging a cut behind and Chris Morris also caught by Buttler pushing forward.

In between, Ryan McLaren was a Tredwell victim in all but name too - officially run out. Miller did his best to resuscitate his team with a 45-ball 50, but when Broad stranded him by taking the last two wickets in two balls, this match was England's to lose.